Halifax man falls from roof, may file accident claim

After he fell from the roof of a domestic property he was working on, one Halifax man suffered serious injuries that may lead to his filing of an accident claim against his employer.

While working on a flue liner installation to the inside of a chimney at a residential building located in Cookridge, Leeds, the thirty three year old fell when the roof ladder he was using gave way beneath his feet. The worker requested that his name be withheld from the media at this time.

After he fell seven metres to the ground below, the severely injured man was rushed to hospital for treatment that lasted more than two weeks according to his accident solicitor. The consequences of his fall will stay with him for the rest of his life, which could prompt him to file a personal injury claim for damages.

The Halifax-based firm that employed the man, Fluetech Ltd of Drakes Industrial Estate located on Shay Lane, in Halifax, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for their role in the man’s injuries. Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard the case and ruled that the company was to be fined £13,500 with additional court costs of £3,873 as well.

The HSE investigation found that the firm had neglected to carry out a proper risk assessment of the nature of the work. HSE investigators also stated that Fluetech Ltd had not provided their worker with the correct equipment to complete the job safely.

David Welsh, an inspector for the HSE, stated that Fluetech had permitted an additional employee to complete the work without making any alterations to the procedures that the HSE proved to be unsafe.

More than four thousand workers suffer serious injuries in the UK every year, according to official figures.